Ambroise Thomas studied under Jean-François Lesueur at the Paris Conservatory. After the death of his father, Thomas moved to Paris where he took lessons from Lesueur specifically in composition theory.
Lesueur, who taught composition at the Conservatoire from the beginning of 1818, counted Thomas among his pupils. Lesueur to a certain extent instilled his interest in musical theater, monumental choral genres, and program music in his students.
